Motor-vehicle for the transport and operation of small-caliber guns



E. SCHNEIDER.

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSPORT AND OPERATION OF SMALL CALIBER GUNS.

. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 19'19 LSTGOS.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. SCHNEIDER. MOTOR VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSPORT AND OPERATION 0F SMALL CALIBER GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.3I, |919 1,377,603. Patented May 10, 1921.

6 SHEETSfSHEET 2.

E. SCHNEIDER. y MOTOR VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSPORT AND OPERATION OF SMALL CALIBER GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, |919 Patented May 10, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. SCHNEIDER.

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSPORT AND OPERATION 0F SMALL CALIBER GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAILSI, 1919 1,37*?603 Patented May 10, 1921.

s SHEETS-SHEET 4.

L E. SCHNEIDER. MOTOR VEHICLETOR THE TRANSPORT AND OPERATION 0F SMALL CALIBER GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3l, 1919 www3; Patented May 10,1921

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5- E. SCHNEIDER; MOTOR VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSPORT AND OPERATION 0F SMALL CALIBER GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAILSI, 1919 Patented May 10, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6- STATES ATENE OFFICE.

EUG-ENE SCHNEIDER, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR T SCHNEIEER & CIE., 0F

FRANCE, A LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF FRANCE,

Moron-VEHICLE For, THE TRANSPORT AND OPERATION or SMALLQALIBER mms Patented May 1o, 19.21.

Application led March 31, 1919. Serial No. 286,484.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGNE SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the French Republic, and a resident of 42 Rue dAnjou, Paris, France, have invented a new and useful Improved Motor- Vehicle for the Transport and Operation of Small-Caliber Guns, which inventionis fully set forth in the following specification.

munitions as well as a motor,

This invention has for its object to provide an improved motor vehicle for the transport and operation of small caliber v uns. This improved vehicle is characterlzed rst by the feature that it is composed of two elements, namely, of a transport vehicle whereof the carriage framing is adapted t0 carry a gun carriage or pedestal or i and of a trailer. The essential characteristic feature of the transport vehicle resides in the apparatus by which the control of the speedchanging and driving mechanism' of the motor and the steering of the vehicle is effected by means of a single control member situatedy at the rear of the framing within reach of the operator who himself can be carried by the trailer that is drawn by the transport vehicle.

In a practical constructional form of the invention the framing of the transport vehicle is carried either by endless track-trucks or by pairs of side plates between which the endless chains are guided. -These chains or endless .tracks are actuated by two cross' shafts mounted in the framing of the vehicle and in the trucks or guide plates of the chains, and arranged in line with each other. These shafts receive their motion from two parallel longitudinal shafts'con- .f its turn connected to the end of a lever fulv A the mere displacementA of this rocking beaml nected together by gearing, and one of these shafts is-driven directly by the motor. The speed-changing or 'the steering of the transverse shafts is effectedby the displacement over friction disks fixed ofi the said shafts, of rollers carried by sleeves sliding along the longitudinal shafts. Connecting rods which are connected longitudinal shafts, are -connected at their other ends to a rocking beam which is in crumed on the framing ofthe vehicle, By

by means of a control rod,` the two cross shafts are caused to run at the same speed or at different speeds, according as the rocking beam and the lever fulcrumed to the at one end to the saidframing are moved together, or the rocking beam 1s moved angularly around its pivot on the sald lever.

The invention comprises further, an ap-v that serve to shift the roller-bearingvsleeves.

The invention also comprises various practical constructions of the transport vehicle and of the trailer for carrying the steerer and operator.

gli the accompanying drawings:

1 structional form of the improved vehicle shown 1n the traveling position.

Figs. 2 and 2a,'w hich are complements of each other, show a plan thereof.

F lgs. 3 to 6 illustrate the application of a speed-limiting apparatus to the driving mechanlsm of the endless chains.

Flg. 3 is a horizontal section along the axis. of lthe roller-bearing sleeve.

F Figg 4 1s a section on the `line IV-IV of Figs. 5 and 6 are part horizontal sections drawn to a larger scale, illustrating the op# eration o f the speed-limiting apparatus.

g. 7 la partial plan drawn to a larger scale, of 'he modified construction of the parts for controlling the roller-bearing sleeves.

.Figs 8 and 9 are respectively a side elevation and a pllan of a modification of the transport ve icle shown in the position it occupies for bringing the gun carried by 1t into position for firing.

Inthese various figures, A is the framlng of the transport vehicle which is 'adapted to carry at the same time a small caliber gun anda motor indicated diagrammatically at C.

`The framing A is connected by cross members either to endless track-trucks of Panis,

gure 1 is a side elevation of one conesY known construction, or, as is assumed in the example shown, to the internal elements D,-D1 of two pairs of sideplates,D,"E, D1, v

ing respectively mounted on the shafts Gr,

the framing A and the inner side-plates D,

D1. The power istransmitted from the cross shafts to the drive-wheels g, by means of a pinion and chain K, L or Kg, iL1.

The shafts J and J1 receive'their motlon through two longitudinal shafts M, M1 which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the framing A and are mounted in bearings carried bythe latter. One of` these shafts M1 is driven directly by the motor C. The two shafts M, M1 are connected together Y by toothed wheels N, N1 having equal numbers of teeth. The transmission lof the ower from M to J on the one hand and from 1 to J1 on the other, is eected as follows: Each of the shafts J and J1 carries a friction i disk O, O1. n. each of the shafts M, M1

Vso

there is adapted to slide a sleeve P, P1 carrying at its two ends rollers Q, R- and Q1, R1.

The two mechanisms P-Q-R, P1-Q1-R1, while rotating with the shafts M, M1, are capable at any moment of beingshifted longitudinally by means of connecting rods S, S1 which terminate at one end in a fork engaged in a sleeve p, p1, while their other end 8,131 isconnected to one of the arms of a rocking beam T-T1. This rocking beam is itself pivoted at u to one\y of the ends of a link U hinged at its other end u1 to the framing A. The rocking beam T-T1 is actuatedby a control rod V provided with a handle o projecting from the rear of the framing A and situated within the reach of the steerer and operator (Fig. 1). The latter may be carried in a trailer W coupled to the framing A. This trailer is preferably constructed as shown i-n Figs. 1 and 21, in the form of a hammock car in which the operator can lie full length.

It will be seen that by moving the control rod V parallelly to the axis of the framing, the operator is able to shift simultaneously forward or backward the roller-bearing sleeves P, P1 and therebyV bring either the rear rollers or the front rollers into con-v tact with the disks 0, O1 at a variable point of said disks. yThe chains F 151111 thus be actuated both together in one direction or in the other at variable speeds.

If now the operator moves the control rod V, and consequently the rocking beam T-T1, around the pivotal connection of the latter to the lever U, he willcause the two connecting rods S, VS1 to move in opposite directions, and he will thereby steer the vehicle to the rightv or to thev left according to the direction in which he has moved the rocking beam.

As shown in Fig.

7, a shock-absorbing denut X2 ner sleeves exceed ya normal speed depending on the power of the motor. In other words it is important to prevent automatically the opn erator from producing a movement of the friction rollers which might cause the driven chains from exceeding the said speed in cases Where `the nature of the ground would not allov the motor to produce the desired Spee In bearings m1, formed or carried by the framing A, there is' adapted to rotate a screw-threadedshaft X carrying a friction disk X1 at its outer end. With the screwthread of this shaft X there is engaged a which" will move longitudinally when-the. shaft X is rotated. These longitudinal movements are limited by two stops constituted by the two bearings w1 respectively. /f The disk X1 is arranged to receive rotation in one or the other direction by the action uponits faces 1 or 2, of two centrifugal governors Y, Z that are actuated respectively by the shafts M and M1. When the speed of the motor reaches the determined maximum, the balls y and e will move the iny1 and .e1 apart against the pressure of the springs bearing on the inner faces of said sleeves as shown in Fig. 5. The sleeve 21 will rub against the face 1 of the disk X1 and will thus rotate the said disk, thereby thestop bearing The'operator will then be able to shift the rollerlbearing sleeves P and P1 until they reach the position shown in Fig. 5, and to increase the speed of rotation of the chains in proportion to the possible speed of rotation of .the motor.

If, on the contrary, the speed of rotation of the motor should fall to the determined lower limit, the governors which have been adjusted for this purpose, will allow the movable sleeves l1/1-21 through the action of their springs to move nearer to the corresponding fixed sleeves as shown in Fig. 6.

- During this approaching movement, a flange causing the nut X2 to move toward far forward. When the nut X2 butts against the bearing w1, the possible extreme forward position of the rollers Q, Q1 will correspond to the permissible speed of the chains, according to the present speed of the motor.

In the constructional form. shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the chain supporting frames serve each to accommodate a munition chest 3.

On the other hand, the inner side-plates D, D1 instead of being xed rigidly to the framing A, are connected to the latter in front by pivotal connections 4, and .at the rear by pivotal connections 5. 6 are short connecting rods. which may be placed in the position indicated in dot and dash lines for traveling. In iring, these connecting rods act as stays between the framing A and the side-plates D, D1 which are then caused to divergeto the amount of a slight angle as indicated in full lines in Fig. 9. The frame A is provided at the rear with a point of Support by a screwjack 7 which can be raised for transport. By this means it will be readily p perceived that the horizontal range of firing of the gun B is increased.

It is to be understood that a coupling must be provided between the two sections of each'of the shafts J and J1 which are suitabl divided into sections.

. gs shown in dot and dash liliesl in Figsl,

l2 and 2a, the stability of the vehicle in the firing position can be provided for by any suitable means, for instanceI by struts 8 which are jointed to the gun pedestal B and are provided with anchoring spades 9 at their lower ends.

What I claim is 1. In a transport vehicle, a supporting frame, track-trucks mounted on opposite sides of the supporting frame to propel the vehicle, a motor on the supporting frame having a driving connection with each track-truck, speed a'nd direction' 'changing mechanism interposed in the driving connection between the motor and each track-truck, a rocking beam pivoted intermediate of itsends to a member shitably mounted on the rear part of the supporting frame, said rocking beam being connected at eachend with one of the speed and direction changin mechanisms, and a control lever extendlng rearward from the rocking beam and operative to move said beam to change through the. intervening mechanism the speed or direction of either or both of said track-trucks. Y j

2. In a transport vehicle, a supporting frame, track-trucks mounted on opposite sides of the supporting frame to propel the vehicle, a motor on the supporting frame having a driving connection with each tracktruck, speed and direction changingmechanism interposed in the -driving connection between the motor and each track-truck, a

rocking beam pivoted intermediate of its ends t'o the free end of a link hinged at-its other end to the rear part of the supporting frame, said rocking beam being connected at each end with one of the speed and direction changing mechanisms, and a control` lever extending rearward from the rocking beam and operative to move said beam Ato change throughthe intervening mechanism the speed or direction of either or both of said track-trucks.

3. In a ,transport vehicle, a supporting frame, track-trucks mounted on opposite sides of the supporting frame to propel the vehicle, a motor on the supporting frame having a driving connection with each ftrack-truek, speed and direction changing mechanism interposed in .the driving connection between the motor and each trackj truck, a rocking beam comprising two sections connected at their outer ends with the speed and directlon changing mechanisms andpivotally mounted at their inner ends` on the free end of a link hinged at its other end to the rear part of the supporting vframe,

a spring normally holding in alinement the rocking beam sections, and a control lever having an elastically attached handle ex-- tending rearward from the rocking beam and operative to move said beam to change through the intervening mechanism the speed and direction of either or both of said track-trucks. 1

4. In a transport vehicle, a supporting frame, track-trucks mounted on opposite sides of the frame to propel the vehicle, two

alined shafts extending across lthe frame with each shaft having a driving connection i with the track-truck on its respective side, two parallel shafts extending longitudinally of the frame between the inner ends of the cross shafts, a motor on the frame for rotating the two longitudinally extending shafts,`

a speed and direction changing mechanism connecting each longitudinally extending shaft to the adjacent cross shaft, and a single control member. connected with both of the speed and direction changing mechanisms to be operated to change the speed and direction of the cross shafts and of the track-trucks.

5. In a transport vehicle,- a supporting frame, track-trucks. mounted Aon opposite sides of the frame to propel the vehicle, two alined shafts extending across the frame with each shaft having a drivingA connection at its outer end with the track-truck on its respective side, a disk on the inner end of each cross shaft, two parallel shafts extending longitudinally of the frame between the disks, a sleeve slidable on each lon 'tudinal shaft to rotate with the same an having rollers at its ends to bear against the adjacent disk to rotate the latter, a motor on the frame for rotating the longltudinal shafts, and a single control member connected with both of the sleeves to move the latter in either direction to vary the positions of the rollers on their respective disks to change the speed and direction of rotation of the cross shafts with a 'corresponding change in the track-trucks.

6. In a transport vehicle, a supporting frame, track-trucks mounted on opposite sides of the frame to propel the vehicle, two alined shafts extendmg across the frame with each shaft having a driving connection at its outer end with the track-truck on its respective side, a diskon the inner end of each cross shaft, two parallel shafts extending longitudinally of the frame between the disks, a sleeve slidable on each longitudinal shaft to rotate with the same and. having rollers at its ends to bear against the 'adjacent disk to rotate the latter, a motor on the frame for rotating qhe longitudinal shafts, a rocking beam pivoted intermediate of its ends to the free end of a link hinged to the frame, rods connecting the ends of the rocking beam with the sleeves, and a handle on the rocking beam to move the latter to shift through the connecting rods the sleeves to vary the positions of the rollers on the disks to change the speed and direction of rotation of the cross shafts with a corresponding change in the track-trucks.

7. In a transport vehicle, a supporting frame, track-trucks mounted on opposite sides of the frame to propel the vehicle, two

alined shafts extending across the frame with each shaft having a driving connection at its outer end with the track-truck on its respective side, a -disk on the inner end of each cross shaft, two parallel shafts extending longitudinally of the frame between the disks, a sleeve slidable on each longitudinal shaft torotate with the same and having rollers at its ends to bear against the adjacent disk to rotate the latter, a motor on the frame for rotating the longitudinal shafts, a single control member connected I with both of the sleeves to move the latter ends to opposite, sides of the supporting frame to propel the vehicle, detachable stayrods to connect the rear ends of the tracktrucks with the supporting frame when the track-trucks are turned outwardly at their ends from the supporting frame, a motor on the supporting frame having a detachable driving connection with each tracktruck, speed and direction changing mechanism interposed in the driving connection between the motor and each track-truck, and arsingle control member connected with both of the speed and direction changing mechanisms to be operated to change thespeed or direction of either or both of the tracktrucks. l

9. In a. transport vehicle, ausupporting frame, track-trucks hinged at their forward ends to opposite sides of the supporting frame" so that saidltrack-trucks can be an ularly displaced relatively to the supporting frame, means for holding the track-trucks in their angular displacement relatively to the supporting frame, and a motor on the supporting frame for driving the tracktrucks to propel the vehicle, the connection between the motor and the track-trucks be.

ing detachable to permit the angular displacement of said track-trucks.

In testimony v,whereof I have signed this specification.

EUGNE SCHNEIDER. 

